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Govt plans ban on smoking in public
Thursday, 6 July 2006 - 4:54 AM SL Time
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The government plans to ban smoking in public, by introducing the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Bill, in order to prevent non-smokers from inhaling the smoke emitted by smokers and thereby becoming passive smokers and also to prevent the younger generation from taking to smoking. This was revealed in the Parliament by Minister of Healthcare and Nutrition Nimal Siripala de Silva.
Presenting the Bill in Parliament yesterday he said `One of the main purposes in setting up the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol was to save the younger generations as it would be difficult to wean the older persons, who could be addicted to tobacco or alcohol, He said the Bill was being introduced by the government to present a major health hazard posed to the Sri Lankan nation by the increasing addiction to smoking and drinking.
`Under this Bill it is proposed to prohibit smoking in public places as smoking in public places exposes the non-smokers to tobacco fumes making them passive smokers. The danger posed to the health of passive smokes was also equally dangerous. WHO has found that, smoking is the cause of a number of diseases, including, heart disease, cancer and kidney ailments, therefore the authority will enforce the law against the advertising of tobacco products,` he said.
According to studies done by the WHO it was found that addiction to smoking and drinking in developed nations like those of Europe were decreasing while increasing in the developing and third world nations. Thus it was found that large tobacco and alcohol manufacturing companies were concentrating on selling tobacco products and alcoholic drinks in the third world nations and much is being spent on direct and indirect propaganda on tobacco and alcohol in these countries. The government had decided that all such advertising should be banned, and the authority will enforce the law,` he said.
Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera (JHU) said he was grateful to the government for the decision to set up a National Authority on tobacco and alcohol. The was a proposal of the JHU and a Private Member`s Bill of the JHU was brought up to the house on November 28 last year therefore it was a fruition of the JHU proposal. `This country had a tradition set by the Dhamma of the Buddha that it was immoral to consume alcohol. Till the 19th century the people of Sri Lanka detested drinking alcohol and it was only in the British Colonial are that alcohol was gradually introduced first in the coastal areas of the Western Province. Gradually alcohol became an important product consumed by people and today serving liquor at all occasions, weddings, parties and funerals has become a common habit.`
He said he wished to thank the Minister and the government for taking steps to set up the Authority so that the danger of the country becoming a nation of drunkards could be prevented.
P. Dayaratne (UNP) Ampara District said during the previous government he had planned to being up a similar Bill to prevent the addiction by Sri Lankans to alcohol or tobacco. But since the UNP was defeated at the last general election he could not pursue this action.
However, he said he was thankful to the Minister of Healthcare for presenting this Bill in the house as alcohol and tobacco consumption is increasing dangerously. He said in 1994 there were 1,479 licensed liquor outlets but this number had increased 3,099 by the year 2006. It had more than doubled, showing that the people were getting addicted to alcohol dangerously.
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Mahabala
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5 Jul 2006 22:08:00 GMT Report for Abuse
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Nonsense!
They do these things to change the public mind from LTTE bllod thirsty war ctivities.
Mahinda:
Is this the Priority? Then do it! But no big deal you will get out of that!
Edited By - Mahabala - 5 Jul 2006 22:13:23 GMT |
DrAkai
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5 Jul 2006 22:10:18 GMT Report for Abuse
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Good decision but its always sceptical when it comes to implementation as we know by experience how things are done in SL.
Will this be another damp squib? Remains to be seen. |
petijo1
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5 Jul 2006 22:13:23 GMT Report for Abuse
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Smoking is not good for health, one out of five die by this habits in developed countries. Now developed countries prevent people from smoking. I think in undeveloped third world poor countries like Sri lanka precaution is better than cure. The Action of GOSL is a good move to save people from incurable diseases and from burden of families.
Edited By - petijo1 - 6 Jul 2006 07:14:25 GMT |
Mahabala
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5 Jul 2006 22:14:54 GMT Report for Abuse
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DrAkai:
You can read several important things from:
www.lankaenews.com
JVP is organising a set of seminars countrywide.
I cannont understand what happened to Lanka today? |
petijo1
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5 Jul 2006 22:16:55 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Mahabala reveals his nonsense ban on smoking too. |
DVLADV
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5 Jul 2006 22:21:12 GMT Report for Abuse
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| I am a smoker and also do not agree on many things the GOSL does. But I agree and think that this is a good move along with this they should spend some money on advertising that this is a cool thing to do for the younger generation. |
petijo1
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5 Jul 2006 22:23:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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Maximum levels of insulin in the blood were significantly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers, the researchers report in the medical journal Diabetes Care. The time it took to reach peak levels was also shorter in smokers than in non-smokers.
Following smoking cessation, insulin absorption declined within 1 week and approached non-smoker levels. This was completely reversed with smoking resumption. |
DrAkai
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5 Jul 2006 22:24:25 GMT Report for Abuse
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MB,
I am very sceptical of the political situation in SL. Everything is in a right whole of mess.
JVP is trying to reap the benefits out of this situation and I am not against them because JVP has always been against the CFA and division though one has to question whether JVP has really placed a plan for the problem. This is where I am trying to find an answer. Because all the political parties are throwing words and sling mud each other for political gains and UNP or SLFP are no infants in this. Despite JVP are talking for unity and the importance of restructuring they I believe lacking a concrete proposal to the ethnic problem.
If we leave aside the controversial CFA and ISGA then one must readdress the tamils' issue, because we just cannot go around the same thing without a proposal and that is why Mahinda is absolutely talking piffle garbage.
We don't want sacrifice of more innocent lives from either side. We need peace. And where is that coming from that is the $64m question. |
petijo1
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5 Jul 2006 22:29:19 GMT Report for Abuse
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Le plus important pour arrêter de fumer est d'être réellement motivé. Si vous le faites sous la contrainte ou pour faire plaisir à quelqu'un, vous n'y arriverez certainement pas.
Edited By - petijo1 - 5 Jul 2006 22:30:45 GMT |
DrAkai
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5 Jul 2006 22:29:46 GMT Report for Abuse
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MB,
If you want news from radio then go to website,
www.slbc.lk
then either city FM or Sinhala national service.
Petijo sister,
You can listen to a tamil station as well :-) |
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